Hobart (Australia)

Looking out the window as I landed in Hobart, I saw the lagoons and straw-coloured fields that seemed to promise a haven of beauty and peace. And that is exactly what I found in Hobart: a small, quiet town of around 200,000 inhabitants where life is good. At the airport you are curiously welcomed by a plastic seal on the conveyor belt.

The city centre of Hobart possesses a neighbourhood consisting of sandstone buildings called Salamanca Place, which is very lively in the evening and the ideal place for its restaurants, the Peacock theatre or a for an evening at the pub to listen to live music and meet people. I saw several concerts, one at the theatre and a country group in the open air with a large number of locals. Even if they do have a hippy side about them, I assure you that the people of Hobart do not have a third eye, as some continental Australians had led me to believe! Salamanca Place is also a pleasant place to go for a stroll, particularly on Saturday morning when a huge market opens for your enjoyment. A few minutes walk from Salamanca Place, on the heights of the city, is the historic Battery Point neighbourhood with Arthur's Circus, which boasts nice little coloured houses that remind you of Wisteria Lane in Desperate Housewives. In addition to Salamanca Place in Hobart, I loved to stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are located at the edge of the city and offer a beautiful view over the surrounding area. In fine weather, I also recommend that you take a short trip to Sandy Bay, the beach of Hobart. On the other hand, if it is raining I recommend you visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, which presents a very interesting permanent exhibition on the Antarctic. There is also a section on the Tasmanian devil and on the legend of the Tasmanian Tiger. At 16 minutes by car from Hobart, don't miss the famous MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).

So don't hesitate to get out of Hobart to discover the wonders of this little "New Zealand": you can climb Mount Nelson, 6 kilometres from the centre, for a magnificent panorama of the city. But it is Mount Wellington, 33 minutes away by car, which in my opinion offers the the most breathtaking views of Hobart and its vicinity: a fabulous place to embrace the beauty of the landscape. In the surrounding area, I also recommend: the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, to feed the kangaroos, cuddle the koalas and especially to see the small Tasmanian devils (which are a highly endangered species); the picturesque village of Richmond, with its stone bridge and small church; and, especially, the beautiful and unique Mount Field National Park with its giant trees (1 hour 10 min by car): numerous hikes are available there. Personally, I booked a guided tour in order to learn about the exceptional biodiversity of the region!